Jeremy Corbyn, Leader of the Labour Party, is coordinating EU-wide efforts by socialist parties to protect the rights of UK citizens living in the EU and EU citizens living in the UK. 

Yesterday, Jeremy wrote to leaders of seven European socialist parties, allied to Labour and in government, to lobby, at every level of the EU, for the rights of British citizens abroad and to reaffirm Labour’s commitment to the rights of EU residents in the UK.

This was followed by a government defeat in the House of Lords on the issue, meaning the Brexit Bill will now return to the House of Commons.

Theresa May has resisted Labour calls for the government to act unilaterally to guarantee the rights of EU citizens in the UK. It currently looks likely to take the issue of rights for EU migrants in the UK and British migrants in the EU into what could be a difficult and unpredictable period of negotiations.

Those at risk unless the government takes action include 11,700 adult social care workers and 6,554 NHS workers in the East of England alone.

East of England MEP Alex Mayer added the following:

“It is high time Theresa May gave a guarantee to the EU citizens who have made the East of England their home, that they can continue to live here.

“We are talking about doctors working in our hospitals and researchers collaborating on scientific breakthroughs. These people, many of whom have lived here for years, paying taxes and raising families, deserve our respect, not to be treated as pawns in the Brexit negotiations.

“Theresa May must end the legal limbo.”